Irritable bowel syndrome is one of the most common reasons for seeking medical treatment. Despite its pervasiveness, there is no known cause for this uncomfortable gastrointestinal syndrome that is characterized by routine intestinal bloating, cramping, constipation, diarrhea and excessive gas. Traditional treatment includes antispasmodic medications that smooth out the action of the colon. However, complementary treatments can be just as effective, including changes in diet, life stress levels and an increased focus on emotional care.
Dietary Changes
Diet changes can greatly improve the symptoms of irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). Adding fiber to the diet incrementally is still the standard bearer of diet supplements. Fiber is commonly found in non-processed foods, such as whole grains, fruits and vegetables and also as in supplement forms such as pills, powders and beverages. Peppermint oil is another supplement easy to integrate into the diet. The National Center for Complementary and Alternative Medicine notes that peppermint has been proven effective for IBS in several studies, but overdose can be dangerous. Peppermint oil capsules reduce this risk and also are coated to prevent heartburn, a common side effect of peppermint oil. Also, avoid alcoholic and caffeinated beverages, as well as fatty foods, which are all known to intensify IBS symptoms.
Stress Reduction
Countless sufferers have noted that stress exacerbates the symptoms of IBS, although it is unknown if this actually causes the syndrome. In either case, managing life stress is an effective way to manage IBS. Meditation, yoga, moderate physical exercise and the creative arts are all ways to reduce life stress and generalized anxiety. Walking, in particular, is an activity that promotes digestion, and can also be combined with meditation and controlled, synchronized breathing. The National Digestive Diseases Information Clearinghouse (NDDIC) also recommends looking into deeper patterns such as the way you handle disagreement and tension in everyday life.
Empathetic Care
IBS can be disruptive to many aspects of life, and it also carries a stigma of shame for the sufferers. For this reason, consider finding a support group. In 2008, Harvard researchers published a study in the British Medical Journal suggesting that social "placebo" effects from medical providers can significantly improve IBS symptoms. In their words, "factors as warmth, empathy, duration of interaction, and the communication of positive expectation might indeed significantly affect clinical outcome." Consider seeing a holistic or integrative medical practitioner who are more likely to attend to the personal, mental and emotional aspects of IBS.
Psychotherapy
Finally, IBS has a strong correlation with mental health disorders. According to a 2001 article pubished in the Journal of Clinical Psychotherapy, 50 to 90 percent of those who seek treatment for IBS have a mental health issue including "panic disorder, generalized anxiety disorder, social phobia, post-traumatic stress disorder and major depression." In the past, this correlation was regarded as a part of the social stigma of IBS, but now researchers suggest that IBS may be a mind-gut interaction from the beginning. Consider seeing a counselor or psychotherapist. Social and emotional support is clearly a powerful force for not only dealing with IBS but possibly for overcoming it.
